ISU Research, Innovation, and Creativity Insights

Dr. Anna Grinath and PhD. graduate student Calista Gresick join me to talk about ways to help students gain a sense of “belonging” in science education. Too often, students struggle to learn when they don’t fully engage in learning opportunities. This is especially true in science fields. Grinath and Gresick are exploring innovative ways to turn this around. They talk about strategies teachers can use to promote student learning.

Dr. Nell Flanders, ISU’s Director of Orchestral Activities and music director of the Idaho State-Civic Symphony talks about her own musical journey and how it led her to ISU. She talks about ISU’s efforts to bring beautiful music to Idaho communities, and how ISU brings young artists together to learn and hone their talent. Dr. Flanders discusses her international outreach activities that have a strong musical impact on ISU and Idaho.

ISU researchers are discovering how the human brain adapts to hearing technologies such as hearing aids and cochlear implants. ISU professor Curtis Billings and doctoral student Garrett Anderson describe how advanced hearing technology works and how hearing impacts our day-to-day activities. Join us to learn more about the audiology (hearing) clinics and services on ISU campuses in Pocatello, Meridian, and Salmon, Idaho.

Dr. Devaleena Pradhan and PhD student Makenzie Reed from the Idaho State University Department of Biological Sciences, discuss what they are learning about the connections between molecules and behavior. We learn about unique research experiences including how their research “brings the ocean to Idaho.” If you are interested in learning about how fish, stress hormones, and parenting behavior are connected, then join us for this episode.

Dr. Matthew Levay, ISU professor of English, discusses his decade of research on modernist literature and how the variety of forms, including novels, magazines and even comics and file, describe the times in which they were written, and provide lessons for today. We talk about how the literature of the past provides a window into our understanding of the culture and the issues that persist, rightly or wrongly, over generations. Dr. Levay discusses the role that research plays in the discovery of new knowledge and joy.

The American Public Health Association defines a Community Health Worker (CHW) as “a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served.” Join a conversation with Idaho’s Community Health Worker Academy to learn about how ISU is building bridges between health care providers and those who need health care services. We discuss ISU’s role in building health resources and information assistance for Idaho’s most vulnerable citizens. Visit the online Community Health Worker Training Academy to learn more about how to register for the program, to take classes or to bring these unique resources to your community.

This month’s guests describe the threats to the sometimes invisible systems that make our lives comfortable. The electrical grid, transportation systems, water and sewage treatment systems, gas pipelines, and most factory manufacturing systems are run by complex computer controllers. Have you ever considered what happens if someone “hacks” the system? What would happen if our electrical grid or rail lines were suddenly disrupted or shut down for a few days? ISU is home to one of the nation’s first and oldest training centers to protect the U.S. industrial cyber infrastructure. Join us as we learn about current threats and how ISU students are ready to protect against them.

ISU’s Dr. Mary Lou Dunzik-Gouger and current undergraduate nuclear engineering/ mechanical engineering student Angela Trejo talk about ISU research that is molding the U.S. energy future. They tell us how students work side-by-side with ISU faculty to better understand how ISU’s research nuclear reactor is answering questions to guide the design of the next generation of advanced reactors.

Join Idaho State University's Interim Dean of the College of Business, Alex Bolinger, MBA graduate Rehnaz Karanjia, and current MBA student Alicia Pino as we discuss their research on effective communication with remote employees. Their work delves into what strategies are most effective when managing remote teams, as well as common pitfalls to avoid. The conversation will highlight key findings from their research on leadership and project management in remote work environments.

ISU’s 2025 Distinguished Researcher, Dr. Mustafa Mashal, ISU Structural Lab manager Jared Cantrell, and undergraduate student Prajita Budhathoki talk about engineering research that saves lives and builds a safer future for all of us. They describe recent projects that involve ISU students and partnerships that support innovations in bridge building, agriculture, and energy systems.